Page 77 of Bonding the Band

“How were you dealing with them before we reunited?”

“Mostly with questionable consumption.”

Meadow pursed her lips. “I wonder how much of that I felt.”

“More than I’d like. I’m going to try getting off what I’ve been taking. I don’t want you feeling that.”

“Shouldn’t that be handled by professionals too?”

“Yes…but that’ll have to happen af?—”

“After the tour?” Her frown creased little lines into her face.

“I don’t have much choice about that. I’d be disappointing a lot of people and hurting careers if I hopped off to rehab mid-tour.”

“They would understand.” Meadow nuzzled her cheek against my shirt, scent marking it.

“Just because they would understand doesn’t mean it wouldn’t do damage. I’m just trying to do what’s best for everyone.”

Her fingers curled in the fabric of my shirt, and she pulled me down. “What about what’s best for you?”

How was I supposed to make her understand that there was no best for me in this life? My options were to suck it up or destroy careers. I’d been sucking it up for so long I didn’t even know how to function in a way that put my own well-being first.

“I don’t know,” I confessed.

“You have a baby on the way,” Meadow said firmly. “Figure it out.”

Chapter 31

Arlo

Everyone was preparing for the baby, and I wanted to help. Beckett and Phin had set up the nursery at the house, and Hendrix had contributed DNA. I wanted to do something for the baby that would be useful and that Meadow would appreciate.

While Hendrix was out with Meadow on a cute little date, I went into the city to wander around until I found a gift that would work.

I needed something that screamedcan we keep you?But maybe not quite as creepy as that.

After hours of no success, and the deadline to meet for our pack dinner approaching quickly, I stumbled across a small craft store and had the amazing idea tomakesomething for my omega.

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” an older brunette beta who smelled like strawberries and wore a polo shirt with the store logo on it asked me after I had spent a good twenty minutes looking at all the various kinds of yarn.

“I want to make something for my omega with this stuff!” I said, pointing eagerly at the wall of yarn.

The brunette sales assistant gave me an indulgent smile. “Do you have a color in mind?”

I nodded. “She loves green, so different shades of that.”

“Okay, in that case I would recommend this yarn.” She crouched down and picked up a gigantic ball of yarn, bigger than a lot of the other ones in the store. “This is a chunky yarn, and it’s really, really soft. I’ve had quite a lot of omegas make items for their nests with this. Here, have a feel.”

I took the ball from her, running my fingers over it and humming in agreement. It was ridiculously soft and Meadow loved soft things.

It was perfect!

“I’ll take it,” I declared, hugging the ball of yarn to my chest.

The sales assistant cocked her head. “What are you planning on making? You can’t make much with just one ball.”

“A throw blanket. Possibly a baby blanket? I’m not entirely sure.”

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